Amid ongoing immigration reforms, the Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal of passports from Nigerians who have renounced their citizenship, with Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, directing the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediately withdraw and deactivate the documents.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Babatunde, on Friday.
According to the directive, the order applies to individuals whose renunciation of Nigerian citizenship has been formally approved by the President.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the measure is anchored on the Ministry’s responsibility to protect citizenship integrity and is backed by Section 29 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He noted that once a person ceases to be a Nigerian citizen, such an individual is no longer entitled to hold any sovereign document of the country, including a Nigerian passport.
The Minister further said the directive aligns with ongoing passport and visa reforms introduced by the Ministry of Interior in recent years.
He added that the government will continue to strengthen systems aimed at securing Nigeria’s borders, preventing identity fraud, preserving the sanctity of citizenship, and ensuring that only eligible persons have access to Nigerian travel documents.
Authorities say the move is part of broader efforts to tighten immigration controls and modernise the country’s passport management system.
